Market Development Associate

Overview

Community Heart & Soul seeks to help people shape the future of their communities by actively seeking the collective wisdom of all residents, improving local decision-making, creating a shared sense of belonging, and ultimately strengthening the social, cultural, and economic vibrancy of each place. This is accomplished through a four-phase program delivered by trained Community Heart & Soul coaches.

Our work focuses on growing Community Heart & Soul through strategic partnerships with community foundations, nonprofits, and state and municipal organizations. We seek a Marker Development Associate to join our Market Development team and help drive program expansion through authentic relationship-building and strategic partnership development.

The Market Development Associate serves as a dynamic extension of the Vice President of Market Development, working collaboratively to identify, cultivate, and nurture partnerships with community foundations, nonprofit organizations, and state and municipal leaders across the United States. This role requires exceptional relationship-building skills, business acumen, marketing sophistication, and the ability to represent Community Heart & Soul professionally at conferences, events, and direct partner engagement.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and skilled networker who understands nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, possesses strong communication abilities, and demonstrates genuine passion for Community Heart & Soul’s mission. This person must be comfortable working independently and within a team, capable of managing complex relationship touchpoints, and adept at leveraging data-driven insights to support market development strategies.

Partnership Development & Relationship Management

• Prospect Identification & Pipeline Management:
  Identify and qualify potential community foundation, nonprofit, and municipal partners across the US through research, networking, and market intelligence. Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of prospective partners at various stages of engagement.
• Strategic Outreach:
  Initiate and manage multi-channel outreach to prospective partners through email, phone, networking events, conferences, and social media. Customize communication strategies based on partner type and stage of partnership journey.
• Relationship Cultivation:
  Build and nurture meaningful relationships with foundation executives, nonprofit leaders, and municipal officials. Develop a deep understanding of each prospect’s strategic priorities, funding models, and alignment with Community Heart & Soul’s mission.
• Hub Spot CRM Management and Marketing:
  Serve as a primary user and steward of Hub Spot, maintaining accurate, detailed records of all partner interactions, pipeline stage, communication history, and partnership timelines. Generate reports and insights from Hub Spot data to inform strategic decisions and track market development progress. Work closely with the Communications and Marketing team on the development of inbound and outbound strategies.

Representative & Thought Leadership Activities

• Conference & Event Strategy:
  Work alongside the VP of Market Development and Vice President of Communications to develop and execute conference strategies that position Community Heart & Soul as a leader in community development within philanthropic and government organizations. Identify high impact speaking opportunities, coordinate panel discussions, and manage logistics for partner engagement events.
• Networking & Speaking Support:
  Attend major conferences and events (including National Growing Community Foundations Conference, Council on Foundations conferences, regional philanthropy networks, municipal league meetings, and specialized convenings) to represent Community Heart & Soul, build relationships, and generate qualified leads. Support the VP in facilitating partner dinners, round tables, and intimate engagement sessions.
• Educational Presentations & Webinars:
  Support the development and delivery of community development expertise, webinars, coaching informational sessions, and educational content that introduces prospective partners…